Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-12-18

to Wolcott, who WAS still a member
of Adams cabinet, and vet who wrote
back tn It "the style and spirit of the
composition are we'll suited to the rub
iect, and will do YOU honor" Sup
ported by other Federalists as well,
Hamilton sen it to a printer wnon
he couli trust, and it was secretly car
ried through the press. It was Il
armless looking. phamplet, now of
great rarity, and bore the highly-re-
spectacle title of
f,om
Alexander Hamilton
conce Mug
The Public Conduct and Character
OF
John Adams, ESQ
President Ut the 'nited States.
New York:
Printed for John Lang hy GeorseF. Hopkins.
copyright secured.
That Hamilton hoped to keep the
circular Il secret is ahsuri--he was too
able u politician not to know that it
was sure to leak. and the copyrighting
it show ed that after the election it
was to he no sec et--hut issuing it al
he did. Just before the election. to the
leaders of'his party only, he expec.ed
that the election would he over before
it was discovered, and it W, uld there
fore do minimum amount of dam
aye, with, from his point OF view. a
maximum Of good.
But this well-construrted plan once
more needed the absence OF the
"other dog" BY some means Aar n
Burr obtained a copy--how is even
to-day unknnwn-but Hamilton COM
pletely exonerated his printer from q
charge that no was conc rned in it.
Copious extracts we're male from il
and printed in the aurora, the great
newspaper OF the Democrats. Ham
ilton was Just starting for Albany
when it was whispered t him that
the publication was to ba made, and
fearing that, by twisting and
garbling the extracts. it might be
made even more serious thing than
it was, he left directions that in case
such extracts should appear. it was TO
be given a general circulation, and
accordingly new edition was run
through the press, and it became pub
lie property. Such was the demand
that four editions were printed and
Duane, the editor of the aurora. in
spite of the copyright, printed anolh-
er, noting on Il copy that be sent to
Europe: This pamphlet 3has done
more mischief to the parties concerned
than all the labors OF the aurora
The effect of this pamphlet was
wonderful; the Democrats were jubi-
liant, the Federaiists aghast. Both
parties entered the fell with pam
phlets in answer. "A Citizen Uf New
York, "Caius," "a Federulirt," "A
Citizen OF These States" "A Fe leral
Republican" and I" An American"
rushed to the defense, or appa' ent
defense, OF Adams. Here was James
Chatham, the Democratic editor,
using it to attack Hamilton and praise
Jefferson, rather than in defense Of
Adams; here was William Pinkney.
another good Democrat, writing an
other answer. while U.al Og'len and
Noah Webster attempted bona ti'ie
answers, but too late TO-. be effective.
The Federalists were divided, never
really to he uniteI again, and Jetier-
n and Burr were elected.
1t i. not strange that Adams never
forga Hamilton for this pamphlet.
In Ills retirement at Quinry, a year
afterward, lie wrote an answer, quite
as severe in it, way. but lacking the
clearness of the original. Hamilton
had gr at advantages, not only of SUI
- ct,lo .,,I ~>f hos ~ tho attach in .
party, but also that he wa dealing
with a man OF great vanity, who was
siugularIy indiscreet in putting
himself on paper. His an
swer, however, was not published
until 1909, five years after
Hamilton was in his grave. This was
looked upon by Hamilton's friends as
u mean attack, and they at once re-
printed the letter Of Hanlillon's, with
the addition of a preface. oh rgine
Adams with ''waging q cowardly and
| inglurious warfare with the dead, that
hs may avenge himself on the mem
DRY of his accusers for char es which
nine years since, were publicly pro-
claimed to him, and which till now
have never been encountered by .
whisper Of refutation or a murmur Of
repy." "He satisfies his appetite fol
revenge by Offering up the unpollu ed
fame of Hamilton on the altar OF hii
idol /"
This pamphlet Of Hamilton's proba
bly, had greater effect than any othel
political squib printed in this country
but outside its political work it re-
suited in the starting of q new paper
Noah Webster had already been men
toned a. replying to it. In 1898 he
hal come to New York to edit a paper
in support OF Washington and Hamil
ton, under the patronage of the lattel
and other Federalists. He had nov
gone over to the Adams section, anc
had dared to answer Hamilton. A
paper devoted to the latter was neces
sary. Hamilton engaged William
Coleman to be its editor, and thus thu
first number of the Evening Post ap
peared on November 10, lS0I.-lS. +
Alta.
Rn-~aA. sn..-.~~ Ear n A pMma.